Prosthodontics & Occlusion · patient case question
How should you respond to his request for an occlusal adjustment?
Patient case: Fifth set of dentures in fifteen years
Patient: 84-year-old man, complete denture wearer.
Chief complaint: I just do not like these dentures. I want the bite adjusted.
History: Four sets of complete dentures made over the past fifteen years, each by a different dentist. He cannot say specifically what is wrong with the current set.
Findings: Retention and stability are good. Borders are correctly extended. Occlusion is balanced with even bilateral contacts. Vertical dimension appears appropriate. No mucosal pathology.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Complete the full evaluation and discuss expectations before adjusting anything
- A. Sending him away without an evaluation abandons a patient with a legitimate complaint, even if that complaint turns out to be about expectations.
- B. Irreversibly grinding a correctly balanced occlusion on request is treating the demand rather than the problem.
- C. A fifth set built on the same unexamined expectations reproduces the same outcome.
- D. CORRECT. Adjusting a balanced, correct occlusion because the patient asked will not resolve dissatisfaction and removes acrylic that cannot be replaced. Evaluate fully, identify whether a real fault exists, and align expectations before any irreversible step.
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